Volume 10 , Issue 1

Pioneer Romulus Z. Linney, M.D. - Hopeton, OK

Romulus Z. Linney took up his residence at the thriving village of Hopeton, Oklahoma in 1904. Dr. Linney became one of the largest landholders of his county, and his personal interests had been extensive and important, demanding much of his attention. He was never to busy to contribute of his best abilities in the interest of progress and civic development, though. This was according to the book, A Standard History of Oklahoma, pg. 1511, written in 1916 by Joseph Thoburn.

The book stated that Dr. Linney was a man of good birth, excellent breeding and fine mental endowment. Romulus Z. Linney was born July 1, 1877, at Taylorsville, North Carolina, a son of Romulus Z. and Dorcas A. (Stephenson) Linney. He was also the grandson of Dr. J. C. and Martha Linney, natives of Tennessee.

Romulus Linney's Father
was born in 1844, at Guilford, North Carolina, the fourth of his parents' children. During the Civil war he enlisted in a North Carolina infantry regiment in the confederate army, subsequently participating in a number of engagements and being seriously wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. At the age of 22 he began the study of law in the office of Judge Nathaniel Folk, an eminent jurist of North Carolina, and after graduating from York Institute, North Carolina, and being admitted to practice, he began to follow his profession. He soon attracted to himself a large and important practice, and as the years passed began to become a prominent figure in public life.

In 1884 he was elected to the legislature of North Carolina, from Alexander County, serving four years in that body and making a distinguished record as a legislator. He was the author of a number of important measures, including the enactment of the law establishing the famous "June Bug" Railroad in that state, and the bill giving the state amended livestock laws. He served on the committees on judiciary and other important questions and was always known as an active, working member.

In 1888 Mr. Linney was elected to the Senate of the state, where he also made a brilliant record which brought him favorably before the people as a candidate for Congress, to which body he was elected in 1896, from the Eighth Congressional District of North Carolina. He served in the US House of Representatives for three successive terms, and during that time was a member of numerous important committees and secured the passage of much important legislation. He retired in 1902 and returned to his home town of Taylorsville, where he reengaged in practice and again made a statewide reputation as a criminal lawyer. He died April 20, 1910, when his community lost one of its most able professional men. Mr. Linney was married in 1863 to Miss Dorcas A. Stephenson, who was born June 29, 1840, at Taylorsville, North Carolina, was graduated at Davenport College, at Lenoir, North Carolina, and was long known as an active religious and charitable worker. She was the third daughter of James F. and Martha (Allen) Stephenson, and died at Taylorsville, North Carolina, March 20, 1904, aged 64 years. Romulus & Dorcas Linney were the parents of four daughters and two sons:

Isadore and Ola, were twins born in 1869;

Hester C., born in 1871;

Blanche, born in 1873;

Frank A., born in 1875, as resident of Boone, NC where he was leading lawyers of his part of the state, served three terms as state's attorney, chairman of State Republican Central committee;

Romulus Z, born in 1844, at Guilford, NC;

The son, Romulus Z. Linney, completed his preliminary schooling at his native place and he entered Trinity College, Durham, North Carolina, and in 1897 matriculated at the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, where he was graduated from the medical department in the class of 1900. He furthered his training by attendance at the Georgetown University, D.C., graduating in 1901, and later took a post graduate course at New York medical college, in 1915. From 1900 until 1902 Dr. Linney served as private secretary to his father, in congress, and in 1904 came to Oklahoma, locating at Hopeton, where he almost immediately attracted to himself an extensive practice, which had grown in volume and importance as the years had passed.

In 1916, he was local surgeon for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. Dr. Linney had been for two years county physician of Woods county, served three years as president of the Woods County Medical Association, and for ten years had been president of the United States Board of Pension Examiners at Alva, Oklahoma. Dr. Linney had a firm and abiding belief in the future of Woods county and had invested his capital in Woods County property. In 1916, Dr. Linney was the owner of 640 acres of valuable wheat land, adjoining Hopeton, all under cultivation and yielding him excellent returns. All of this property had been accumulated from the earnings of his practice. To his professional equipment, the doctor added a delightful manner and many ingratiating qualities, and his friends, once won, were retained indefinitely.

On June 17, 1901, at Washington, D. C., Dr. Linnery was married to Miss Texie N. Townsend, who was born May 7, 1878, at Hickory, North Carolina, daughter of Rev. Noah and Anna (Linthicum) Townsend, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Linney was a lady of many accomplishments and a graduate of Woods College of Washington, D. C., in which city she was reared. Dr. and Mrs. Linney had one son: Zack, who was born April 26, 1902, at Lenoir, North Carolina. He was educated at Missouri Military Academy, of Mexico, Missouri.
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